Frequently Asked Questions

1. Why is co-ed education the way to go? 
2. Do alumni stay connected?
3. What can you tell me about Country Day athletics?
4. How many Honors/Advanced Placement classes do you offer?
5.  Are students provided meals?
6. What can you tell me about the faculty?
7. Will my child be lost in the shuffle?
8. What is the rate of acceptance to top colleges? Are there preparation programs in place?
9. Are all of the schools on one campus? What are your facilities like?
10. How important is diversity to the Country Day family?

 
Why is co-ed education the way to go?
As Headmaster Glen Shilling says in the March 2007 issue of Hour Detroit magazine:

"It's a co-ed world; we are preparing our students for the world they're going to be living in. Our girls don't give an inch to the boys. They are every bit as confident and accomplished. They have an opportunity to not only participate, but really flourish."

Do alumni stay connected?
More than 4,500 of our alumni are actively involved. We host more than 50 events and receptions across the country each year.

Some of our notable alumni include:

• Steve Ballmer, President and Chief Executive Officer, Microsoft
• Shane Battier, Professional Basketball Player
• Kate Markgraf, Professional Soccer Player
• Betsy Thomas, Writer and Producer
• Courtney Vance, Actor
• Chris Webber, Professional Basketball Player
• Robin Williams, Actor
  
  

What can you tell me about Country Day athletics?
Quite a bit! We have won close to 80 state championships and currently offer the following sports:

 

How many Honors and/or Advanced Placement courses do you offer?
We offer more than 45 Honors and/or Advanced Placement courses in everything from Discrete Mathematics to Japanese IV to Shakespeare and Modern Drama.

In addition, we offer qualifying students the opportunity to enroll in the International Baccalaureate (I.B.) program, a comprehensive  and rigorous two-year, liberal arts program which provides students with a balanced education while fostering critical thinking in all academic disciplines and promoting international understanding. Country Day was the first school in Michigan to offer the I.B.

Are students provided meals?
The food is great! All students receive a hot lunch daily in addition to a salad bar, sandwich bar and soup of the day. The Upper School students favor chicken sandwiches and the pasta bar.

We also have morning and afternoon Outtakes where students can purchase snacks such as granola bars, bagels, mini-pizzas, pretzels, juice, water and other tempting goodies!

What can you tell me about the faculty?
Country Day's faculty are second-to-none! Of the more than 194 teachers employed at Country Day, 126 have earned master's degrees and 14 have earned doctorates. Our faculty continuously win awards in their disciplines, publish and research articles and studies, and many are nationally-renowned experts in their fields. Plus, they genuinely care about the success and well-being of our students.

 
Will my child be lost in the shuffle?
No! Our  small class sizes (one teacher for every nine students) and our caring  and attentive faculty will help guide your child while encouraging them to become independent learners.

A vital part of Country Day is the advisor-advisee system. Each teacher has an advisee group of approximately 10 students which meets at least once a week to discuss academic progress, activities and personal concerns. In addition, the advisor serves as the primary contact with the advisee's parents.

Speaking of parents, we welcome parent involvement at all schools - from helping with the annual Auction to serving on the Parent Association to supervising field trips - there are plenty of opportunities for you to be involved in school life.

What is the rate of acceptance to top colleges? Are there preparation programs in place?
One hundred percent of our graduates  are accepted at four-year colleges and universities with an average of three acceptances per graduate. Our graduates are accepted at the top  25 universities in the country at more than twice the rate of the national average.

To help guide students through the process, Country Day has an extensive college counseling program that rivals any program in the nation. Throughout the Upper School, three full-time college counselors host programs and workshops to help students navigate through choices, options and preparations. Students start meeting individually with the counselors their  junior year. In addition, more than 150 colleges visit our campus each year.

Are all of the schools on one campus? What are your facilities like?
Our schools are located on four separate campuses, all within three miles of each other, with a combined 100 acres:

Upper School (Grades 9-12):
Corner of West Thirteen Mile and Lahser Roads in Beverly Hills.

Middle School (Grades 6-8):
Located directly behind the Upper School with the entrance  off of Lahser.

Junior School (Grades 3-5):
Located on Lahser near Maple Road in Bloomfield Hills.

Lower School (Grades Pre-K through Grade 2):
Located on Maple between Lahser and Evergreen Roads.

All four schools have undergone many changes over the past decade:

• The Upper School underwent a $20 million renovation which included a new science wing and the Seligman Performing Arts Center.
• The Middle School was built in 1991.
• The Lower School underwent a $3 million renovation to add the new Barbara Plamondon Earle Learning Village in 2001.

How important is diversity to the Country Day family?

Country Day is similar to the real world in that we have a very diverse student population. Our students come from 50 different communities.